Printing machines with form clamping means



May 27, 1969 c. J. FRAMPTON ETAL 3,446,144

PRINTING MACHINES WITH FORM CLAMPING MEANS Filed 001;. 25, 1966 Sheet Qr2 ILL INVENTORS. 094F155 1 F/PA/VPTO/V y 1969 c. J. FRAMPTON- ETAL 3, 6

PRINTING MACHINES WITH FORM CLAMPING MEANS Filed 001;. 25. 1966' Sheet 3 of2 1N VENTORS. Fig. 3 0 /4525: J. rim/27M Jaw/V ,4. M404 M Aft 2 a A T TOENEYJ United States Patent 3,446,144 PRINTING MACHINES WITH FORM CLAMPING MEANS Charles J. Frampton, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada, and

John A. Man], Lyndhurst, Ohio, assignors to Addressograph Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 589,364 Int. Cl. B41f 3/20, 3/04, 1/30 US. Cl. 101-269 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A data recorder has a movable platen carriage carrying a roller platen and includes a form clamping device movable into and out of engagement with a form to be printed. Means are provided for moving the form clamping device to clamping and release positions as a result of motion of the platen carriage, such that the form clamping device is in clamping position as the roller platen moves over the form to effect a printing operation.

A platen shifting means is also provided to effect lowering of the platen to a printing level when the platen carriage is moved from a home position across the bed of the machine to an actuated position, and for raising the platen to a non-printing level as the carriage reaches the actuated position. The level to which the platen is raised provides adequate clearance for ready insertion of Wide forms beneath the platen when placing them in position for printing. The form clamping device continues to be maintained in clamping position during return movement of the carriage from the actuated position and is moved to release position when the platen carriage approaches the home position.

The present invention relates to a new and improved manually operable printing machine and, more particularly, to a data recorder for recording credit transactions, library and hospital operations and the like from embossed printing plates.

Data recorders of this general kind usually provide a base which carries a printing bed and means for removably mounting a printing device, such as an embossed plate, on the bed. The bed may also carry a dater and a fixed printing plate. Manually operable means are provided to move a roller platen across the surface of a form or document supported on the bed to imprint the form with data from the printing plate or plates and the dater. The roller platen may be of the ink-impregnated type for imprinting directly on a single part form, or it may be a dry platen for imprinting a carbon interleaved form.

A data recorder of the kind generally referred to hereinabove is described in Maul et al., Patent No. 3,179,046 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. As shown therein, the machine comprises a pair of vertical frame members each provided with a cut-out affording a deep throat for accommodating relatively wide forms in printing position on the bed of the machine. This arrangement of the frame members also provides an unobstructed path or opening from the front to the rear of the machine to permit positioning of long forms in printing position on the bed. However, while the machine lends itself to accommodating various size forms, from a practical standpoint it is necessary to register and/or clamp the form in place to prevent movement of the form during an imprinting operation. This is accomplished in the aforementioned Maul et al. patent by providing suitable adjustable gauges for retaining the form in proper position for an imprinting operation. While this arrangement is well suited for imprinting various size 3,446,144 Patented May 27, 1969 forms within a certain range, the minimum and maximum size of the forms which can be imprinted is limited by the range of the adjustment provided by the gauges.

Although imprinting of a large form or document is not always a problem, since the form may be held by hand during imprinting, in certain instances the impression may be required at the bottom edge of the form. In such instances, the form could not readily be held in place by hand unless the operator grasps the top edge of the sheet which is somewhat awkward and inconvenient since it requires reaching over the top and to the rear of the machine.

In the case of imprinting small size forms, the prior art machine is again suitable unless the form is so small that the gauges cannot be adjusted to accommodate the form without interfering with the path of travel of the roller platen. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved data recorder for imprinting a wide variety of forms without the restrictions inherent in the prior art devices.

It is another object of the invention to provide a data recorder having a clamp device for holding the form in position during an imprinting operation without imposing any limitations on the size of the form that can be imprinted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a data recorder including clamp means movable into and out of holding engagement with the form to be imprinted in response to movement of the roller platen through a printing cycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a data recorder with means for clamping the form in which the clamping means does not require separate actuation by the operator, but acts automatically in response to movement of the platen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a data recorder capable of accepting forms or documents of various sizes and shapes, which includes an arrangement for indicating to the operator the precise portion of the document which will receive the imprint, so that the operator can be sure that the imprint will be correctly placed even in the absence of the usual document gauges.

Another object of the invention is to provide a data recorder having means for lowering the roller platen to a printing level when the roller platen is moved across the bed from a home position to an actuated position, and to raise the roller platen to a high, nonprinting level when the roller platen is returned to its home position to provide ample clearance for ready insertion of forms which extend laterally far enough to underlie the home position of the platen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form clamping device for a data recorder which is universal in its use for retaining forms of varying sizes during an imprinting operation, thereby permitting imaging of the forms at various desired locations Without making any adjustments from the imprinting of a form of one size to a form of a different size.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form holding clamp device which is inexpensive to produce and reliable in operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are attained by providing a form clamping device on a data recorder similar to that, for example, disclosed in the above mentioned Patent No. 3,179,046. The clamping device is pivotally mounted between the frame members of the machine and is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with a form to be printed. The platen mechanism is provided with an actuating roller adapted to urge the clamp downwardly and to hold it in engagement with the form in response to movement of the platen from a home position across the bed of the machine to an actuated position. A platen shifting unit is also provided to effect lowering of the roller platen to a printing level in response to movement of the platen from the home position, and for raising the platen to a non-printing level as the platen reaches the end of its printing stroke. During the return movement of the platen to its home position, the actuating roller continues to maintain the clamp down and in engagement with the form until the platen reaches home, at which time the clamp is moved out of engagement with the form to permit removal of the form from the machine and replacement thereof with a new form to be imprinted.

Other and further objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a data recorder embodying the present invention, showing a roller platen in alternate positions and a form clamping device in a raised or inactive position;

FIG. 2 is a right-hand end elevation of the data recorder, with one of the frame members partially broken away, illustrating the form clamping device in alternate positions; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevation similar to FIG. 1 but with the platen roller and portions of the platen carriage indicated in phantom only, and showing the form clamping device in alternate positions.

The general arrangement of the data recorder of the present invention is similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned Patent No. 3,179,046 and, therefore, only a brief description of the data recorder generally will be given herein.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the data recorder comprises a frame including vertical frame members and 12 that are bridged by a transverse frame member 14. The opposite ends of the frame member 14 are rigidly aflixed to the frame members 10 and 12 by suitable means such as mounting brackets 16 and 18. The frame members 10 and 12 are provided with horizontally extending flanges 2.0 and 22 respectively, which constitutes a base for supporting the data recorder, and the flanges are provided -with feet 24.

A printing anvil or bed 26 is provided in parallel spaced relation to the transverse frame member 14 and is rigidly secured to the frame members 10 and 12. The transverse frame member 14 supports a platen carriage 28, provided with a hand grip 30, adapted for movement between a home position shown in full lines and an actuated position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 of the drawings. This movement is guided by the frame member 14 which acts as a track for the platen carriage. The platen carriage '28 is also provided with depending arms 32 and 34 (see FIG. 2) for supporting a roller platen.

Thus far the description of the data recorder is of known construction. The invention in its presently preferred form includes a platen shifting unit indicated generally at 38 rockably supported on the platen carriage 28, and a form clamping device indicated generally at 40 which will be described hereinafter.

The platen shifting unit 38 includes a bail member 42 comprising a back plate 44 provided with integral vertically extending end plates 46 and 48. The bail member 42 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 50 supported near its ends in the depending arms 32 and 34 of the platen carriage 28, and a roller platen 52 is rotatably supported on a shaft "54 provided in the end plates 46 and 48 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A pin 56 is fixed in the depending arm 34 and extends outwardly therefrom, as shown in FIG. 2, and receives one end of a spring 58, the other end of the spring being connected to the shaft 54. The pin 56 is provided with a reduced end for rotatably supporting thereon an actuating roller 60, the pin 56 and the roller 60 providing a projection on the carriage 28 for a purpose to be explained below. A trip member 62, in the f m f a leaf pring, is mounted o the inside f ce 4 of the frame member 10 and extends outwardly therefrom terminating in a nose portion 64 adjacent the back plate 44 of the bail member 42.

Thus as the platen carriage 28 is moved from its home position, the back plate 44 of the bail member strikes the nose portion 64 of the trip member 62 causing the trip member to deflect and the bail member to be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. This rotation of the bail member lowers the roller platen 52 to a printing level where it is maintained in an overcenter position by the spring 58. When the platen shifting unit 38 reaches the actuated position, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, an ear 47 on the end plate 46 strikes a pin 66 provided in the transverse frame member 14 causing the bail member 42 to be rotated to an overcenter position in the opposite direction and raising the roller platen away from the printing anvil 26. In the return movement of the carriage to home position, the back plate 44 of the bail member presents a sloping cam face which rides over the nose portion 64 deflecting the trip member 62 and positioning the back plate behind the nose portion in condition for another printing cycle. In the event that a full stroke is not completed, and the platen is returned to home position, the nose portion 64 will act as a pusher to return the platen to raised position.

The form clamping device 40 of the present invention is made from thin sheet metal or the like and comprises an upright member 68, inclined slightly from a vertical position towards the front of the data recorder as shown in FIG. 2, provided with an integral horizontal flange 70 extending rearwardly from its bottom edge. The member 68 is also provided at its ends with rearwardly bent ears 72 and 74 provided with pins 76 and 78 respectively, adapted to be positioned in holes provided in the frame members 10 and 12 for pivotally supporting the clamping device 40 on the frame a distance substantially above the bed at one side of the track 14 on an axis parallel to the track. A form clamp plate 80 is fastened to the flange 70 as by spot welding, and extends outwardly towards the front of the machine and over the printing anvil 26. As shown in FIG. 1, the clamp plate is provided with an opening 82 at a position corresponding to the position of an embossed printing plate P on the bed of the machine, to expose the printing plate for a printing operation when the clamp plate 80 is down against a form F on the bed as will be further explained hereafter. Preferably, the size of the opening 82 is just large enough to expose the embossed data on the plate P so that the clamp plate 80 will also serve as a mask or visual guide by which the operator can accurately register the appropriate area on the form with the embossed data which is beneath the form and hidden thereby. While the length of the clamp plate 80 is shown in the drawings as being about the same as the length of the printing plate P, it is to be understood that the clamp plate may be of any desired length within the limits permitted without interfering with the platen shifting unit 38. Also, the clamp plate need not be centrally located with respect to the upright member 68 as shown in the drawings, but may be positioned at either side of center so long as the opening 82 is provided at the proper location corresponding to the embossed data on the printing plate.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the member 68 of the clamping device 40 is provided with a cam slot 84 extending diagonally downwardly and leftwardly from an edge 86 of the member 68. The actuating roller 60 is positioned within the cam slot 84 when the platen carriage 28 is in or near its home position, and when fully at home position the roller 60 is at the bottom of the cam slot as shown in FIG. 1 and in the dotted line position in FIG. 3. In this position the clamping device 40 and the roller platen 52 are maintained in a raised position, wherein the clamping device is spaced above the bed to provide clearance thereunder for lacement of a form in printing osition on the bed.

When the platen carriage is moved away from the home position, the actuating roller '60 rides along the cam slot 84 thereby pivoting the clamping device 40 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 and lowering the clamp plate 80 into clamping engagement with a form F on the bed 26 of the machine. At about the same time that the clamping device is lowered, the trip member 62 also causes the platen shifting unit 38 to lower the platen 52 to the printing level. The overcenter action of the spring '58 is thereafter effective to maintain the roller platen at the printing level. The actuating roller 60 riding along the edge 86 maintains the clamping device 40 in a down position.

When the platen carriage reaches the actuated position and the roller platen is raised due to the car 47 striking the pin 66 as described hereinabove, the clamping device 40 continues to be held down by the actuating roller 60 acting against the edge 86, and this situation is maintained until the carriage is returned to the home position at which time the actuating roller 60 enters the cam slot 84 thereby urging the form clamping device upwardly to its inactive position.

The action of the platen shifting unit 38 for lowering the roller platen, and the lowering of the clamping device 40 by the actuating roller 60, is such that the roller platen is lowered to the printing level substantially simultaneously with the lowering of the clamp plate 80 against the form in response to slight movement of the platen carriage 28 from the home position as shown in FIG. 3. In this position of the platen carriage, the actuating roller is positioned at the open end of the cam slot 84 and is not yet riding along the edge 86 to tightly clamp the clamp plate against the form, and a slight clearance is provided between the roller platen 52 and the anvil 2 6 since the roller platen has not yet reached the embossed printing plate on the anvil. This arrangement permits the machine operator to reposition or jog the form, with respect to the opening 82 in the clamp plate 80 which serves as a mask or visual guide, prior to securely clamping the form against the printing anvil and prior to the roller platen reaching printing engagement with the printing plate.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel form clamping and platen shifting mechanism for a data recorder. The form clamping device effectively holds in printing position forms of various sizes, particularly small forms which cannot be held by conventional gauges and large forms especially when it is desired to imprint along the bottom edge.

The platen shifting unit of the present invention is positive in operation and inexpensive to manufacture. Additionally, its cooperation with the clamping device results in reliable operation since the lowering of the clamping device against the form is effected automatically in timed relation to lowering the roller platen to the printing plane. The means for raising the roller platen after an impression has been made, to avoid double imaging or smudging of the form during the return movement of the platen to the home position, is automatically controlled in response to the platen carriage being moved to the actuated position and, during the return movement of the carriage to the home position, the actuating roller maintains the form clamping device against the form until the platen reaches home. At that time the clamping device is raised to an inactive position to permit removal of the imprinted form and replacement thereof with a new or blank form to be imprinted, and the data recorder is in condition for another printing operation. The height to which the roller platen has been raised in accordance with the arrangement taught herein, is sufficient to permit ready insertion of any new document even though it is broad enough to underlie the home position of the roller platen.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification. Accordingly, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such variations and modifications as may fall within the true spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A data recorder comprising:

a frame;

a bed for holding a form to be imprinted;

a track supported above the bed;

a platen carriage carrying a roller platen and movable along the track across the bed to perform a printing operation;

form clamping means pivotally mounted on the frame at one side of the track on an axis parallel thereto, and swingable towards and away from the bed about the axis to clamp a form against the bed and release it therefrom; and

means for swinging the form clamping means and for holding it in contact with the bed while the platen carriage moves through a printing operation, comprising a projection on the platen carriage and cam means associated with the form clamping means and cooperable with the projection.

2. A data recorder as set forth in claim 1 in which the platen carriage has a home position, and which also includes means for moving the form clamping means to release position when the carriage approaches the home position.

3. A data recorder as set forth in claim 1 in which the platen carriage has a home position and an actuated position, and in which the cam means includes a cam slot and a cam edge, said projection coacting with the cam slot for moving the form clamping means into holding engagement with a form in response to movement of the platen carriage from the home position, and for moving the form clamping means out of holding engagement with a form as a result of the return of the platen carriage from the actuated position to the home position, and said projection coacting with the cam edge for retaining the form clamping means in holding engagement with a form during the portion of the printing cycle between the movements of the form clamping means into and out of holding position.

4. A data recorder as set forth in claim 1 in which the form clamping means comprises an elongate, upright member extending parallel to the track, and a form engaging plate secured to the bottom of the upright memher and extending outwardly therefrom across the bed transversely of the track, said upright member including a cam slot and an elongate cam edge defining the cam means.

5. A data recorder as set forth in claim 1 in which the cam means includes an elongate cam edge on the form clamping means extending lengthwise of the bed, and the pro ection on the platen carriage cooperates with the cam edge throughout the majority of the printing stroke to maintain the clamping pressure of the form clamping means holding the form against the bed.

6. A data recorder comprising:

a frame;

a bed for holding a form to be imprinted;

a platen carriage carrying a roller platen movable across the bed from a home position to an actuated position and back to home position to perform a printing operation;

platen shifting means rotationally supporting the roller platen, mounted on the platen carriage, and movable between a first position in which the platen is spaced from the bed surface and a second position in which the platen is disposed in printing relation to the bed surface;

means mounted in spaced relation above the bed for moving the shifting means to the first position in response to the platen carriage reaching the actuated position;

a track supported above the bed for guiding the movement of the platen carriage and maintaining the roller platen in pressure engagement with a form on the bed when the shifting means is in the second position;

form clamping means pivotally mounted on the frame at one side of the track on an axis parallel thereto, and swingable towards and away from the bed about the axis to clamp a form against the bed and release it therefrom;

means for moving the form clamping means into engagement with a form as a result of motion of the shifting means to the second position; and

means for moving the form clamping means out of holding engagement with a form as a result of the return of the platen carriage to the home position.

7. A data recorder as set forth in claim 6 in which the means for moving said form clamping means into and out of holding engagement with said form comprises a projection on said platen carriage coacting with cam means associated with said form clamping means.

8. A data recorder comprising:

a frame;

a bed for holding a form to be imprinted;

a track supported above the bed;

a platen carriage carrying a roller platen and movable along the track across the bed to perform a printing operation;

form clamping means pivotally mounted on the frame a distance substantially above the bed at one side of the track on an axis parallel thereto, and swingable towards and away from the bed about the axis to clamp a form against the bed and release it therefrom, said form clamping means when in release position being spaced above the bed to provide clearance thereunder for placement of a form in printing position on the bed; and

means for moving the form clamping means to clamp ing and release positions as a result of motion of the platen carriage to effect a printing operation.

References Cited Lew 101-269 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

FRED A. WINANS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

